Rayners scores as Sundowns stretch lead to five points

Mamelodi Sundowns leading scorer Iqraam Rayners was among the goals in a 3-0 victory over Polokwane City on Sunday that stretched their South African Premiership lead to five points.

Defending champions Sundowns have 64 points with three matches to play in the richest African national league with a 20 million rand (US$1.2 mn) first prize.

Challengers Orlando Pirates, seeking a first title since 2012, have 59 points with a game in hand. However, three of their four fixtures are away.

An ultimately convincing victory for Sundowns, at the Loftus Versfeld stadium they share with the Bulls rugby club in Pretoria, completed a double over Polokwane in five days.

Sundowns, who won 1-0 in Polokwane on Wednesday, face two home matches this week against third-placed Kaizer Chiefs and mid-table Siwelele. Their final game is away to lowly TS Galaxy.

If the Pretoria club win all three matches they will seal a ninth consecutive Premiership title. No other club has won more than three in a row.

Rayners moved within one goal of Golden Boot leader Junior Dion of Golden Arrows by nodding a Teboho Mokoena cross past goalkeeper Lindokuhle Mathebula after 33 minutes.

Tashreeq Matthews claimed his sixth goal of the league campaign on 56 minutes by cutting in from the wing and firing into the far corner of the net.

Polokwane then squandered chances to get back into the match as Puleng Marema slipped as he took a penalty and fired over, then Monty Batlhabane was just off target with a low shot.

Portuguese substitute Nuro Santos completed the scoring on 85 minutes with a close-range shot that Mathebula should have stopped.

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